W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago, IL

The original three-brick-thick common brick foundation walls were coated with hard cement plaster and painted with synthetic paint. This caused the walls to become saturated with moisture, leading to the brick and mortar deterioration, leaks, and mold growth. To address this, the outermost layer of brick was removed and fans were installed to aid in the wall drying process. The inner wythe of brick was then repaired, and the walls were rebuilt using new salvaged common brick and lime-based mortar. Finally, several coats of limewash were applied to prevent bacterial growth and mold.